Medusas (paintball team)

Medusas (also known as Medusas Paintball Team) is a Colombian all-female competitive paintball team associated with Bogotá. The team competed in the Legend Paintball Series against predominantly male teams, achieving multiple tournament victories and the overall Power division championship in 2019.[1][2]

Medusas was active from at least 2018 to 2021. Its players included Daniela Rojas, who subsequently competed professionally in the United States in the Women's National Xball League (WNXL).[2][3]

History

Establishment and early competition (2018)

Medusas developed in Bogotá as a women's competitive paintball project led by Yei Rojas and Angie Trujillo. The team brought together experienced female players and newcomers to compete in Colombia's established tournament divisions.[2]

The team was registered with PBLeagues on 30 May 2018, although this does not establish its original founding date.[1]

Medusas competed in the Power division of the 2018 Legend Paintball Series, participating in tournaments in Bogotá and Medellín.

Its documented results included sixth place at the third round in July, seventh at the fourth round in September and fifth at the fifth round in November.[1]

Among the team's younger players was Daniela Rojas, who made her tournament debut with Medusas in 2018 at the age of 13.[3]

2019 Legend Paintball Series championship

Medusas achieved its most successful documented season in 2019, competing in the Power division of the Legend Paintball Series.

The team won the opening tournament at Al Límite Paintball in Bogotá on 23–24 February, finishing first among six competitors.

Medusas subsequently finished second at three consecutive tournaments held in Medellín, Bogotá and Cali.

At the fifth and final round, held at Al Límite Paintball in Bogotá on 23–24 November, the team returned to first place, finishing ahead of three other competitors.[1]

The team's results across the five rounds were:

Round	Dates	Location	Position
1	23–24 February 2019	Bogotá	1st of 6
2	18–19 May 2019	Medellín	2nd of 6
3	20–21 July 2019	Bogotá	2nd of 5
4	21–22 September 2019	Cali	2nd of 6
5	23–24 November 2019	Bogotá	1st of 4

The five podium finishes secured Medusas the overall 2019 Legend Paintball Series Power division championship.[1][3]

According to Daniela Rojas, Medusas was the only entirely female team competing in its division and achieved its championship results against predominantly male opposition.[3]

Later competition (2020–2021)

Medusas continued participating in Colombian tournament paintball following its 2019 championship.

At the opening round of the 2020 Legend Paintball Series, held at Hard Paintball in Bogotá from 29 February to 1 March, the team competed in the Master division and finished fourth among eight teams.[1]

The team also appeared in the entry records for the 2020 Spanish Open, although no final tournament placing is recorded.[1]

Medusas returned to domestic competition at the opening round of the 2021 Torneo Paintball Colombiano in Bogotá, held on 13–14 March.

Competing in Division 4 Xball, the team finished 14th among 14 competitors.[1]

Players and personnel

The team's documented leadership included:

Yei Rojas – Team leader.
Angie Trujillo – Team leader.

Both were identified by Daniela Rojas in her account of the team's early development.[2]

Daniela Rojas joined Medusas in 2018 at the age of 13 and was a member of its 2019 championship-winning squad.

Following her success with Medusas, Rojas travelled to the United States in 2020 and joined Destiny. She subsequently represented Femmes Fatale and The Heroines in professional women's competition.[2][3]

Tournament results

Year	Tournament	Division	Position
2018	Legend Paintball Series, Round 3	Power	6th of 8
2018	Legend Paintball Series, Round 4	Power	7th of 9
2018	Legend Paintball Series, Round 5	Power	5th of 7
2019	Legend Paintball Series, Round 1	Power	1st of 6
2019	Legend Paintball Series, Round 2	Power	2nd of 6
2019	Legend Paintball Series, Round 3	Power	2nd of 5
2019	Legend Paintball Series, Round 4	Power	2nd of 6
2019	Legend Paintball Series, Round 5	Power	1st of 4
2020	Legend Paintball Series, Round 1	Master	4th of 8
2021	Torneo Paintball Colombiano, Round 1	Division 4 Xball	14th of 14

Results are taken from the team's official PBLeagues tournament history.[1]

Significance

Medusas was among the Colombian women's teams demonstrating that all-female squads could compete successfully in established mixed-gender tournament divisions.

Its 2019 Legend Paintball Series championship was particularly notable because the team achieved five consecutive podium finishes, including two tournament victories, while competing against predominantly male teams.[1][3]

Medusas also contributed to the development of female players who later participated in international professional competition, including Daniela Rojas.[2]

References

External links